Flexible coupling



Feb. 14, 1950 H. NOLEN FLEXIBLE COUPLING Filed July 10, 1946 uvmvron194/807 4 04 EN Patented Feb. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEass-1.02s naxmm consume and, New. mam, an Ap l cation July 10, ms,Serial No. mm

1 Claim. (Cl. ss-u) This invention relates to flexible couplings of thetype for connecting driving to driven shafts and which compensate formisalignment of the shafts, and has for an object the provision ofapparatus of the character designated which shall be simple and sturdyof construction and capable of being quickly applied and renewed withoutdisturbing the driving and driven shafts.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a flexible couplingelement comprised of a pair of metal disks having plane outer surfacesfor insertion between the flanges of coupling members permanentlyconnected to the driving and driven shafts. A resilient rubber disk isinterposed between'the metal disks and is vulcanized thereto, andfastening means cooperate between the flanges and adjacent metal disks.

Hitherto in the art, flexible couplings have been proposed in which theflexible element has comprised a rubber member inserted between andsecured to coupling members which were, in turn, secured to the drivingand driven shafts. In all such devices with which I have been familiar,it has been necessary to separate the drivingand driven members in orderto mountor replace the coupling element, which operation requiresconsiderable time and skilled labor. This difficulty is overcome inaccordance with my invention in which I provide coupling members havingflanges with plane surfaces and provide a flexible coupling element forinsertion between the coupling members and comprising a pair of metaldisks having plane outer surfaces and a resilient rubber disk interposedbetween and vulcanized to the metal disks. The flexible coupling elementis secured to the flanges of the coupling members by bolts extendingthrough the flanges and threaded into the disks. In order to mount thecoupling element or to replace it, it is only necessary to remove suchbolts and slip one element out and the other in place and secure itwithout disturbing the driving and driven shafts.

A device embodying features of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which Fig.l is a longitudinal sectional view of a coupling made according to myinvention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of P18. 1.

Referring to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, Ishow two shafts Ill and If, one of which may be assumed to be a drivingshaft and the other a driven-shaft. Secured to the shafts in anysuitable manner, as

2 by keys i2 and II, are two coupling members embodying hubs II and I6,having flanges l1 and I! with plane facing, or inner surfaces. The meansfor securing the coupling members to the shafts should not extendbetween the opposed faces of the flanges l1 and I8.

Interposed between the flanges l1 and II is my improved flexiblecoupling element which is comprised of metal disks l8 and 2! havingplane outer surfaces to lie flat against the inner surfaces of theflanges l1 and I8. The disks I9 and 2| may be slotted as shown at 22 and22 in Fig. 2 with the material cut away to form the slots turned inwardto form lugs 2i and 28. Interposed between the disks i9 and 2| andvulcanized thereto is a relatively thick, resilient rubber disk, or pad21.

The flexible coupling element is secured to the flanges l1 and It bymeans of a plurality of bolts 28 and 29, respectively, which passthrough suitable holes in the flanges and which are threaded into themetal disks l9 and 2: as shown at M and 32. With this arrangement, itwill be seen that the flexible coupling element may be mounted byinserting it radially between the flanges i1 and I8 and screwing thebolts 28 and 29 down. In case of failure, it is only necessary to removethe bolts 28 and 29, drop out the worn unit, and replace with a newflexible coupling unit, without loosening the coupling flanges I1 and i!from the shaft. It will be seen that this saves a great deal of time anddoes not require a skilled mechanic to replace the coupling element.

In operation,the resilient rubber disk, or pad 21 transmits thetorsional forces from one shaft to the other, in either direction. Italso cushions any shocks due to pulsations or inequalities in the drive.Being resilient and flexible, it compensates for any errors in alignmentof the shafts. I have found that a coupling constructed in accordancewith my invention is quiet and simooth in. operation and has arelatively long While I have shown my invention in but one form, it willbe obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but issusceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing fromthe spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitationsshall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appendedclaim.

What I claim is:

A flexible coupling for connecting driving and driven shafts, comprisinga pair of metal disks having plane outer surfaces, a resilient rubberdisk interposed between the metal disks and vulammo mm canized thereto,coupling members having hub The following references are of record inthe portions connected to the shafts and having file oi this patent:

flanges nttins against the metal disks. bolts ex- 5 tending through eachof the flanges and threaded [mum STATES mm into the disks adjacent saidflanges for secur- Number me Date in; the metal disks to the flanges,and radially .1 .702 scholtze -a Jan. 10, me

disposed lugs on the inner surface or the metal 1 .421 Fitz Gerald July2 4 disks extending into the rubber, said lugs exn TENT tending lessthan half way through the rubber FOREIGN PA 8 7 disk I Number I CountryDate 42,796 France 1933 my NOLEN' 7 ,638 Great Britain 1938 M 847,562France 1939

